Alexander Hamilton Federalist State Represented: New York
-New York was experiencing an uphill struggle, burdened by its own heavily anti-federalist state convention
-Could not prosper apart from the Union
Occupation/Socio-economic Background:
-Studied at King's College (gained fame for pro-patriot writings and speeches)
-Distinguished military career and close association with George Washington
-New York volunteer militia
-Rank of Lieutenant Colonel in Washington's Staff
-Washington's Chief of Staff
-Married into a prominent New York family
-Was known as a strong nationalist and had elitist political views
-Elected to Congress of the Confederation (New York)
Constitutional Convention:
-Hamilton was a New York delegate for the Constitutional Convention, but his influence was relatively limited
-His two fellow delegates, Lansing and Yates were opponents of any new national government, and carried New York's vote against his
-Out of frustration he left the Convention on June 30th
-He returned to the Convention on August 13th
-He gave a five hour speech on how he thought that the new national government should be run
-Hamilton wrote up a plan that was never presented to the other members of the Convention but had the basic characteristics of the Constitution
Vote: Alexander Hamilton voted FOR the ratification of the Constitution
Friends of Alexander Hamilton:
-George Washington
-John Jay
-John Adams (to a certain extent)
Foes of Alexander Hamilton:
-Thomas Jefferson
-Patrick Henry
-Richard Henry Lee
-Melancton Smith
-Mercy Otis Warren
Arguments for Ratification:
-Proposed to have an elected President and Senate (stronger executive branch)
-Attempted to incorporate the "liberties of a republic" while "guarding against both anarchy and tyranny"
-Did not have a government that relied on the wisdom of the people
-Realized that having plurality in the executive branch would do nothing but cause more problems
-People would not be able to tell where the blame needs to fall
-Argued that the British Government was well laid out
-Having one major power and then people to advise him is much smarter than having several different opinions
Against the Articles of Confederation:
-Weak national government, too much power to the states
-Provided no separate branches to help balance out power
-No president or individual executive, no judiciary system
-The Congress was the only section
-Powers were not divided up well
-States were permitted to have their own money which did nothing but separate the country even more
-No regulations on commerce
-States could declare treaty or wars with foreign nations
-Congress could only request funds for the government
Federalist
State Represented: New York
-New York was experiencing an uphill struggle, burdened by its own heavily anti-federalist state convention
-Could not prosper apart from the Union
Occupation/Socio-economic Background:
-Studied at King's College (gained fame for pro-patriot writings and speeches)
-Distinguished military career and close association with George Washington
-New York volunteer militia
-Rank of Lieutenant Colonel in Washington's Staff
-Washington's Chief of Staff
-Married into a prominent New York family
-Was known as a strong nationalist and had elitist political views
-Elected to Congress of the Confederation (New York)
Constitutional Convention:
-Hamilton was a New York delegate for the Constitutional Convention, but his influence was relatively limited
-His two fellow delegates, Lansing and Yates were opponents of any new national government, and carried New York's vote against his
-Out of frustration he left the Convention on June 30th
-He returned to the Convention on August 13th
-He gave a five hour speech on how he thought that the new national government should be run
-Hamilton wrote up a plan that was never presented to the other members of the Convention but had the basic characteristics of the Constitution
Vote: Alexander Hamilton voted FOR the ratification of the Constitution
Friends of Alexander Hamilton:
-George Washington
-John Jay
-John Adams (to a certain extent)
Foes of Alexander Hamilton:
-Thomas Jefferson
-Patrick Henry
-Richard Henry Lee
-Melancton Smith
-Mercy Otis Warren
Arguments for Ratification:
-Proposed to have an elected President and Senate (stronger executive branch)
-Attempted to incorporate the "liberties of a republic" while "guarding against both anarchy and tyranny"
-Did not have a government that relied on the wisdom of the people
-Realized that having plurality in the executive branch would do nothing but cause more problems
-People would not be able to tell where the blame needs to fall
-Argued that the British Government was well laid out
-Having one major power and then people to advise him is much smarter than having several different opinions
Against the Articles of Confederation:
-Weak national government, too much power to the states
-Provided no separate branches to help balance out power
-No president or individual executive, no judiciary system
-The Congress was the only section
-Powers were not divided up well
-States were permitted to have their own money which did nothing but separate the country even more
-No regulations on commerce
-States could declare treaty or wars with foreign nations
-Congress could only request funds for the government
Bibliography:
(Primary Source) "Alexander Hamilton, An Address to the People of the State of New-York on the Subject of the Constitution." 12 February 2009. <*http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/digital/exhibitions/constitution/address/index.htm>.
(Print Source) Hamilton, Alexander, John Jay, and James Madison. The Federalist Papers. New York: Penguin Classics, 1987.
"The Defense of the Constitution of the Untied States." Teaching American History. Ashland University. 12 Feb. 2009 <http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=789>.
The Federalist." Left Justified Publiks. 1997. 12 February 2009. <http://www.leftjustified.com/leftjust/lib/sc/ht/fed/jbio.html>.